August 12, 2024
The University of South Carolina and Lexington Medical Center opened a new 52,000-square-foot facility to train the next generation of nurses during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 12.
Located on Lexington Medical Center’s West Columbia campus, the satellite clinical education building will be used primarily for clinical training of the university’s third- and fourth-year nursing bachelor’s students as well as master’s program students.
Cutting-edge technology and flexible spaces offer USC’s growing nursing student population an elevated educational experience and better prepares them to transition into practice.
South Carolina is expected to have more than 10,000 nursing vacancies by 2030 and has one of the highest projected shortages in the United States. This public-private partnership expands the College of Nursing’s training capabilities and creates opportunities for reducing nursing workforce shortages.
On average, the university awards 900 nursing degrees per year systemwide. Within five years after opening, the new facility will help train and graduate 400 nurses per year in the Midlands—an 80% increase annually.
“We’re proud to partner with the University of South Carolina to directly address the nursing shortage in our state,” said Tod Augsburger, president and CEO. “We are looking forward to growing the pipeline of skilled nurses for our organization and the state while continuing our mission to provide quality health services that meet the needs of our communities.”
Under the partnership, Lexington Medical Center funded the new facility and is providing clinical instructors. Students will benefit from an immersive simulation center, state-of-the-art clinical education and collaboration spaces and private study spaces.
Close proximity to the hospital offers students a wide range of interprofessional education training as well as opportunities for clinical immersion for nurse practitioner students.
“Today, we see our college transformed,” College of Nursing Dean Jeannette Andrews says. “Our new satellite campus and its cutting-edge technology will elevate what our students can experience. We’re demonstrating our commitment toward a future that will attract the most promising and talented student and faculty minds.”
The University of South Carolina’s nationally ranked College of Nursing has a multi-pronged mission of teaching, research, practice, service and policy. As the state’s first nationally accredited nursing program, the college has graduated more than 12,000 nurses since 1957 and continues to attract, retain, train and grow the workforce. A national leader in exam passage rates, the college’s graduates are prepared to address local and regional health needs while improving the accessibility of quality health care.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
